The youngsters never trialled away from home, though it wasn’t until Jamal Hamilton crossed for their fifth of the afternoon that a dogged Blues side were finally shaken off for the win.
After an even opening, the deadlock was finally broken as the visitors took control of the game, Bedford caught out wide and allowing Adam Shaw the simplest of finishes– his first of a hat-trick on the afternoon.
By then it was all Saints and a second wasn’t long in waiting, Shaw again putting the finishing touches to a move started by a strong lineout drive.
In what was to become a theme of the afternoon though, Bedford bounced back in spirited fashion. Two tries in six minutes brought them back on an even keel only for Rory Hutchinson to recapture the lead just before the break.
It was a score laid on by his centre partner, Harry Mallinder, who showed his strength to shrug off two defenders and offload and with Robert Smith scoring from the back of a dominant maul shortly after the break, the two-score lead was restored.
But Bedford again hit back with a converted try and a penalty in the space of just five minutes That left the game delicately poised at 22-all but the Saints would broke clear for a third and final time.
Shaw completed his treble with a brilliant chip and chase down the wing and with Mallinder converting, the visitors would make extra sure, Hamilton’s effort affording them a comfortable finish.
TIMELINE
15mins SAINTS Try Shaw 0-5
23mins SAINTS Try Shaw Con Mallinder 0-12
28mins BLUES Try & Con 7-12
34mins BLUES Try 12-12
36mins SAINTS Try Hutchinson 12-17
HALF-TIME BLUES 12 SAINTS 17
43mins BLUS Try & Con 19-22
48mins BLUES Pen 22-22
50mins SAINTS Try Shaw Con Mallinder 22-29
55mins SAINTS Try Hamilton Con Grayson 22-36
FULL-TIME BLUES 22 SAINTS 36
SAINTS U19 Shaw; Waycot, Hutchinson, Mallinder, Darwell-Taylor; Grayson, Smith; Eveleigh, Fish, Byrne, Conner, Cardall, Allman, Ludlam, Cox
Reps – Rayment, Arnold, Trinder, Watson, Pollard, Richardson, Povey, McKibbin, Hamilton
